Liberal Arts & Professional Studies rolls out a first-class welcome to international students

The Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LA&PS) held two separate receptions in September to welcome its Fall 2012 international students to York University.

One of two receptions held to welcome new international students to LA&PS

As part of the receptions, some 53 entrance scholarships were awarded to new international students whose entrance average was 90 per cent or more. LA & PS Dean Martin Singer was at the events to award the scholarships to the students.

Narda Razack, associate dean external, welcomed the students and received a rousing reception when she asked the students to shout out the countries they represented.

"Attendees were keen on making connections with faculty and other new international students from their programs,” she said. “We focused very carefully on the needs of these students – and the tips, strategies and resources shared by upper-year international students and senior staff added to the warm welcome and will help make their York experience even more successful."

Martin Singer

Singer provided a keynote address at both receptions and encouraged the new international students to embrace Canada as well as life on their new campus.

“You should make a determined effort to create a network that will last a lifetime,” he stressed. “Expand your horizons as much as possible. Half of your education occurs in the classroom and half occurs outside the classroom.”

One of the highlights was a panel of current international students Crystal Yue, Yi Zheng and Vrutika Patel. The three students shared their academic experiences and participated in an interactive discussion with the new students.

Narda Razack

Senior faculty members turned out for the event in strong numbers as well, providing students a unique opportunity to meet many of their department chairs, directors and program coordinators.

The receptions were arranged and coordinated by the office of the Associate Dean External, which oversees, promotes and coordinates international initiatives for the Faculty and works closely with York International. Under the direction of Associate Dean External, LA&PS implements strategies for international faculty collaborations, international initiatives within departments, study abroad opportunities for students, the globalization of curricula, highlighting international collaborative research and promoting university partnerships in its commitment to internationalization.

In 2009, the LA&PS international student body of 802 students represented 62 countries of origin and has significantly grown to 2,479 students from 99 countries in 2012.